Wilson Parking says South Island boss Peter Turner set up rival business, despite restraint of trade

New Zealand’s largest carpark management and parking provider has taken its former South Island boss to court amid claims he breached confidentiality and set up a rival business.

Wilson Parking says Peter Turner plotted his departure and lured future clients well in advance, even working in “incognito mode” so he could “cover his tracks” while under a restraint of trade.

The company presented opening statements on the first day of what is anticipated to be a four-week hearing at the Employment Court in Christchurch today.

Speaking for Wilson Parking, Rachael Reed KC said Turner, the founder of Mainland Parking, breached his employment contract and goodwill in his activities through ATE Property.

Wilson now wants Mainland’s lease agreements, profits and Turner’s shares in the company, his salaries and costs.

It could potentially amount to millions of dollars.

Reed said Turner and a former senior executive, who has name suppression, were Wilson’s most trusted South Island staff when they became disgruntled and disaffected with the company.

Turner had come under financial pressure, and the pair began to undermine Wilson and divert business to Mainland Parking, she said.

It was deliberate and unlawful for them to take such steps as they had contractual obligations, including a restraint of trade, Reed said.

Turner is accused of meeting with various landlords and inserting termination notices into their contracts to allow them to get out of lease and management agreements with Wilson.

Reed said Turner set about “crystallising” the competing business “months and months” before he resigned in August 2023.

Turner allegedly signed 11 new leases just before his leaving date in September 2023, all with short tenures to make them available for his new business.

Reed said he accessed confidential information about the profitability of each site.

Turner kept his laptop over the weekend following his last day with the company, and gained confidential information before clearing out the desktop, main drive and internet history, she said.

He then accessed his personal e-mail in incognito mode, accessed documents and copied the information over in an effort to “cover his tracks”, all while under a 12-month restraint of trade, she said.

Meanwhile, it has alleged the senior executive was still employed with Wilson and entered into an agreement with Turner for shares in the new company.

Reed said the pair communicated via burner phones and by the end of March 2024, Turner had set upATE Property, which would later trade as Mainland Parking.

“He approached landlords to enter into agreements, and assisted them in terminating agreements.

“He asked the landlords to keep the information confidential; he wanted to maintain cover to approach other landlords, he has used the information to encourage other Wilson and non-Wilson landlords, it was unlawful activity.”

Wilson uncovered the business in November 2024 and asked Turner to preserve evidence in a letter to him the following month.

Reed said Turner and Mainland obtained 26 illicit leases from Wilson, and a further 17 leases from using Wilson connections.

She said between February and April 2024, Turner incorporated the company and described it as a non-residential property development.

“Mainland was incorporated in April in 2024, but he began negotiating before this.

“He did not tell Wilson he would start a competing business.

“That 12-month restraint allows Wilson to protect its interests.”

The matter is being heard by Judge Helen Doyle.

* This story originally appeared in the New Zealand Herald.